Person movement apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus 10 for moving a person into and out of a bath 12. The apparatus comprising a seat 48 mounted by pivotal linkages 38 and 62. The seat 48 can be raised using a ram 56. The linkages 38,62 are arranged such that when the seat 48 is raised beyond a particular height the seat 48 tilts rearwardly whereby to raise the legs of a person on the seat 48 to permit same to be pivotted over the side of a bath without the requirement of lifting the seat 48 far above the bath.

This invention concerns person movement apparatus, and particularly butnot exclusively apparatus for moving a person into and out of aconventional bath.

A number of prior arrangements have been provided for moving a person,and particularly a disabled or elderly person into and out of a bath.Some of these arrangements have required particularly adapted baths.Others are permanently mountable on the floor so as to take up aconsiderable amount of space and only be usable with a specific bath.Such arrangements are only usually practical in a nursing home, hospitalor other institution. Others require a person to be lifted high into theair to be able to be swung over a bath, which can be dangerous and alsofrightening for a user of the apparatus.

According to the present invention there is provided person movementapparatus, the apparatus comprising seating means; means for moving thesaid seating means in a generally vertical direction to permit saidmeans to be locatable at: an appropriate height adjacent to a bath for aperson to sit on, an appropriate height in the bath for the person towash, and also a height to enable movement of said seating means above aside of the bath; means for tilting the seating means rearwardly wherebyto raise the legs of a person on the seating means to enable the personto be moved over the side of the bath without moving the seating meansunduly high; and means permitting the seating means to be moved from afirst position adjacent the bath to a second position over the bath.

The seating means is preferably pivotally movable between said first andsecond positions.

The apparatus may comprise a frame upon which the seating means ispivotally mounted. The seating means is preferably mounted on the frametowards the side thereof from which a person enters the bath.

The frame is preferably locatable on a bath, desirably to rest on oneend thereof and also to extend part-way along the sides thereof. Theframe preferably has a generally U-shaped configuration. Means arepreferably provided to prevent the frame lifting relative to the bath.The frame is preferably adjustable so as to be usable with differentsize baths.

The apparatus is preferably arranged such that the seating meansautomatically tilts rearwardly when raised above a predetermined height,and returns to its original alignment when lowered back to saidpredetermined height.

The apparatus preferably comprises lower and upper pivotal linkagesconnecting with the seating means, with the means for moving said meansin a generally vertical direction being engageable with the upperlinkage, and abutment means engageable with the lower linkage when theseating means reaches said predetermined height to cause the tilting ofthe seating means.

The vertical moving means preferably comprises a hydraulic ram. A pumpis preferably provided for the ram which may be either electrically ormanually operable.

Means may be provided to permit the pump to be operated by a person onthe seating means, and with the manual pump a pivoted bar may beprovided with one end thereof locatable adjacent the seating means. Arelease valve may be provided for the ram. Means are preferably alsoprovided to prevent the seating means from dropping quickly, and saidmeans may comprise a shock absorber.

Alternatively, the vertical moving means may comprise a gear drive whichmay include a belt engageable with the seating means. The upper linkagemay be guided by one or more track means.

An electric drive may be provided for the gear drive.

Alternatively manually operable winding means may be provided for thegear drive, and the winding means may be arranged to be operable by aperson on the seating means.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way ofexample only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first apparatus according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a differentcondition;

FIG. 3 is a partially cut-away view of part of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of part of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view through the part of the apparatus shownin FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second apparatus according to theinvention;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a third apparatus accordingto the invention in a first position;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 7 ina second position;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic side view of the apparatus of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of part of the apparatus of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 11 is a generally similar view to FIG. 8 of a fourth apparatusaccording to the invention.

FIGS. 1-5 show person movement apparatus 10 usable to lift a person intoand out of a bath 12. The apparatus is usable by a carer, nurse,relative or the like to safely lift the person into the bath 12.

The apparatus 10 comprises a generally U-shape frame 14 which ismountable on the bath 12 such that the base 16 of the U rests on the endof the bath 12 away from the taps, with the side limbs 18 of the Uresting on respective sides of the bath 12. The length of the base 16 isadjustable to allow use of the apparatus 10 on different size baths. Thebase 16 comprises a panel 20 with a generally downward facing channelconfiguration extending from one limb 18, and a pair of spaced bars 22extending from the other limb 18, and engageable in the channel sectionof the panel 20. A suitable locking arrangement with a wing nut 24 isprovided for holding the panel 20 and bars 22 in a required relativeposition.

The limbs 18 are of L-shape section with padding strips 26 on the insideof either limb for secure engagement on the sides of the bath 12 butwithout damage thereto. Brackets 28 are provided on the wall 30 a shortdistance above the limb 18 to prevent lifting thereof during use of theapparatus 10. The brackets 28 are arranged to be removable such thatthey can be fitted on the appropriate one of the limbs 18 for aparticular situation. An upstanding cylindrical projection 32 with acollar 33 is provided on the panel 20 so as to be located towards theside of the bath 12 away from the wall 30.

Rotatably mounted on the projection 32 and resting on the collar 33 is abody 34. An upper frame 36 is pivotally mounted on the body 34 to extendabove and on each side thereof. The frame comprises a pair of spacedgenerally inverted L-shape members 38 which have an inwardly turnedportion 40 at the free end of one of the limbs. The members 38 areinterconnected in the area of their apices by a plate 42. The members 38are pivotally mounted to respective upstanding stubs 44 on the body 34,at locations on the members 38 adjacent the apices thereof but towardsthe portions 40.

Rollers 46 are provided on the free end of each of the portions 40. Thefree ends of the limbs of the members 38 which do not mount the portions40 pivotally mount a seat 48 on respective sides thereof towards the topof the back of the seat. A projection 58 is provided on each limb of themember 38 which mounts the seat 48, located generally midway between themounting of the rod 54 and the seat 48 for a purpose hereinafter to bedescribed. A pair of arms 50 extend from the apices of the members 38and converge together to provide a mounting for one end of a shockabsorber 52. A rod 54 extends between the members 38 beneath the plate42 and pivotally mounts the upper end of a hydraulic ram in the form ofa jack 56.

A first pair of relatively short arms 60 are pivotally mounted about oneend thereof on each side of the body 34. Towards the other end of thearm 60 are pivotally mounted a pair of further arms 62. The arms 62 arepivotally mounted about one end thereof to the arms 60, and pivotallymount adjacent the other ends thereof the seat 48 at a location spaceddownwardly from the mounting of the members 38 on the seat 48.

Within the body 34 the lower end of the jack 56 is mounted on a plate 64which is pivotally mounted to the base of the body 34 by a hinge pin 66.A slot 68 is provided in the top of the body 34 for the jack 56 toextend through. An actuator arm 70 for the jack 56 extends through anopening in the body 34 on the opposite side thereof to the seat 48. Arelease valve actuator 72 for the jack 56 extends beneath the arm 70. Alower pivotal mounting for the shock absorber 52 is also provided withinthe body 34.

In use, the seat 48 is pivotted about the projection 32 so as to belocated to the side of the bath as shown in FIG. 2. With the releasevalve 70 open the seat 48 will be in its lowest position, as shown inFIG. 1, to enable a person to readily get on to the seat 48. In thislowermost position the arrangement is very stable with the projections58 resting on the respective arms 60. With the valve 72 closed the jack56 can be actuated by moving the arm 70 up and down. This causes theseat 48 to lift, initially in a generally vertical direction.

As the seat 48 lifts by virtue of extension of the jack 56, the upperframe 36 and the arms 60 rotate in an anticlockwise direction about therespective pivotal mountings thereof on the body 34. Eventually the freeends of the portions 40, and hence rollers 46, engage with the arms 60.As a result of this engagement further actuation of the jack 56 causesthe seat 48 to tilt rearwardly as shown in FIG. 2, thereby raising thelegs of a person seated thereon.

Once the seat 48 and hence person sitting thereon has been raisedsufficiently, the seat 48 can be pivoted about the projection 32 to belocated above the bath 12. As the seat 48 is tilted rearwardly, therebylifting the legs of a person thereon, the amount of lifting of the seat48 is considerably reduced as would be required if the seat was purelylifted in a vertical direction. The person located above the bath 12 cannow be lowered into the bath 12 using the release valve 72. If this isreleased quickly the shock absorber 52 will prevent the person fallingtoo quickly. The person can then have a bath in a usual manner and belifted out of the bath by reversing the above procedure.

There is thus described a person movement apparatus with a number ofadvantageous features. The combined lifting and rearward tiltarrangement means that the seat does not have to be raised to any greatheight above the bath, thereby making use of the apparatus a lessfrightening experience and also removing the need for substantialmounting of the apparatus, usually on the floor, to counter the momentswhich would be encountered during maximum lift. Also, the rearwardtilting of the seat provides for an extra feeling of safety for a user.

The U-shaped frame permits mounting of the apparatus on a bath with justtwo mounting points on the wall. The mounting brackets can be arrangedto permit ready removal of the frame thereby permitting the bath to bereadily used in a conventional manner. The frame can be arranged toreadily be usable when lifting is required from the other side of abath. As the rearward tilting occurs automatically during the lifting ofthe seat, operation of the apparatus is a simple one motion operation.As the frame is adjustable the apparatus is readily usable on a widerange of baths.

FIG. 6 shows a similar apparatus 80 except that the apparatus 80 isintended to be worked by a person taking a bath. In this instance an arm82 connected to a shortened actuator arm 84 extends to alongside oneside of the seat, and is pivotally mounted to the side of the body 34 at86. A further arm 88 extends to alongside the other side of the seat 40.The arm 88 is linked to the release valve 72 to permit actuationthereof. The apparatus 80 can be operated in the same way as theapparatus 10 but by a person on the seat 48 making respective up anddown movements of the arm 82 and moving the arm 88 as is required.

FIGS. 7-10 show a further person movement apparatus 90 according to theinvention. A similar frame 14 is provided which pivotally mounts a body92. The body 92 comprises a pair of spaced tracks 94 which extendupwardly and slightly rearwardly relative to a seat 96. The seat 96 ismounted on a frame 98 which comprises an upper cross member 100 withends having formations 101 engageable in the tracks 94. Extendingdownwardly from the cross member 100 are a pair of spaced elongatemembers 102 which mount the seat 96 thereon and are profiled togenerally follow the contours thereof. Where the members 102 bendbeneath the connection of the base and back of the seat 96, a projection104 extends from each member 102 to point rearwardly.

A pair of channel members 106 are pivotally mounted on the frame 14 toextend downwardly therefrom, and such that each member 106 acceptstherein one of the members 102. Located between the tracks 94 is anelectric worm drive for the apparatus 90. This comprises a motor 108with a worm drive 110, as shown in FIG. 10. The drive 110 winds a belt112 inwardly and outwardly from the body 90 as required. The free end ofthe belt 112 is mounted on a cross piece 114 extending between themembers 102 substantially at the junction between the back and base ofthe seat 96.

In use, the apparatus 90 operates in a generally similar manner to theapparatus 10. Raising of the seat 96 occurs by the belt 112 being woundinto the body 92 by the motor 108. When however the projections 104contact the lower ends of the channel members 106, the projections 104cannot pass thereup and therefore the members 106 pivot outwardly asshown in FIG. 9 to cause the rearward tilt of the seat 96 at aparticular height. The apparatus 90 can be actuated using any suitablecontrols which could be hand held by a carer etc, or by a person usingthe bath. The worm drive 110 prevents the seat 96 from falling quickly.There is thus provided an electrically driven version with theadvantages of the above described manually operable version.

FIG. 11 shows a still further person movement apparatus 120 which issimilar to the apparatus 90 but is intended to be worked by a persontaking a bath. The apparatus 120 is similar to the apparatus 90 exceptas indicated below. The belt 112 is locatable in the body 92 around aroller mounted on a shaft 122. The shaft 122 extends to the left handside of the body 92 and mounts a gear 124 towards the end thereof.

The gear 124 is engageable with a vertically orientated worm gear 126located on the free end of a further shaft 128. The shaft 128 extendsfrom a further gear (not shown) which is connected via a chain drive(also not shown) to a rotatable handle 130. The further gear and chaindrive are located in a closed arm 132 which extends from the body 92through an opening 134 to extend generally alongside the seat 96. Thehandle 130 is provided extending upwardly from the arm 132 towards thefree end thereof.

The apparatus 120 can be operated in a similar manner to the apparatus90 but by a person winding the handle 130. This could be a person takinga bath or a person located alongside the bath.

Various modifications may be made without departing from this scope ofthe invention. For example different lifting arrangements could be used,and different control arrangements could be provided for operating theselifting arrangements. A different mounting arrangement could beprovided. The first described embodiment or one similar thereto could beprovided with an electric pump for actuating the hydraulic cylinder.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention tothose features of the invention believed to be of particular importanceit should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respectof any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbeforereferred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particularemphasis has been placed thereon.

I claim:
 1. A bath lift comprising:a) a frame for mounting on a side ofa bath tub; b) a seat support relatively moveably mounted on the frame;c) a seat mounted on the support; d) a seat movement means operablyinterposed between and connected to the frame and the seat for movingthe seat along a path of travel from a user pickup and dischargeposition upwardly over such tub side and downwardly into a bathingposition and return; e) the seat movement means including seat tiltingmeans for tilting the seat rearwardly to an inclined position from anupright position as the seat reaches a predetermined height duringupward movement as the chair traverses the path whereby to elevate auser's legs relative to such user's torso and thereby reduce the userelevation required to pass over such side of such tub; and, f) thetilting means also being for returning the seat to its upright positionwhen the seat reaches a predetermined position during downward movementof the seat after it has passed over such side of such tub.
 2. Apparatusaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the seat is pivotallymovable between said upright and inclined positions.
 3. Apparatusaccording to claim 2, characterised in that means are provided toprevent the seating means from dropping quickly.
 4. Apparatus accordingto claim 3, characterised in that the prevention means comprises a shockabsorber.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that theseat is mounted on the frame towards the side thereof from which aperson enters such a tub.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1,characterised in that the frame is locatable on such a tub to rest onone end thereof and also to extend part-way along the sides thereof. 7.Apparatus according to claim 6, characterised in that the frame has agenerally U-shaped configuration.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 1,characterised in that means are provided to prevent the frame liftingrelative to such a tub.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterisedin that the frame is adjustable so as to be usable with tubs of a rangeof sizes.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 1, further including lowerand upper pivotal linkages are operably connected to the seat, with theseat movement means being engageable with the upper linkage, andabutment means engageable with the lower linkage when the seat reachessaid predetermined height to cause the tilting of the seat. 11.Apparatus according to claim 10, characterised in that the upper linkageis guided by one or more track means.
 12. Apparatus according to claim1, characterised in that the seat movement means includes a hydraulicram.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterised in that a pumpis provided for the ram and the pump is a selected one of electricallyand manually operable.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 13,characterised in that a release valve is provided for the ram.
 15. Thelift of claim 1, wherein the seat movement means is controlled by aselected one of a user and a user assistant.
 16. The lift of claim 1,wherein the seat movement includes a prime mover.
 17. The lift of claim16, wherein the prime mover is an hydraulic cylinder.